Check for CO

First Alert offers the CO410 carbon monoxide alarm that plugs into an outlet with a battery backup. The digital display illuminates to show the hazard level when the unit is in alarm mode.

Last week, we addressed the dangers of radon gas in the home. This time, we will discuss the other "silent killer," carbon monoxide (CO) - the leading cause of accidental death by poisoning in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov), CO poisoning results in approximately 500 deaths and an estimated 20,000 emergency hospital visits each year.

Like radon, CO is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas detected in the home only by special carbon monoxide alarms. The major difference: the effects of radon are cumulative, which means it takes a long time to cause health problems. Symptoms of CO poisoning can happen immediately, posing a real threat to your life.

WHERE DOES CO COME FROM?

Carbon monoxide is a by-product of burning fuel. According to Paul Wanco, fire marshall of the Lodi Fire Department, many homeowners and renters are not aware of the dangers of CO.

"We try to educate homeowners as much as possible," he said. "There’s a lot of information out there."

Some sources include emissions from:

* loose pipes on gas or oil furnaces

* improperly installed kitchen ovens

* wood-burning stoves

* fireplaces

* improperly vented clothes dryers

* operating a gas barbecue grill indoors or in a garage

* exhaust fumes from motor vehicles or gas-powered equipment left running in an attached garage.

Wanco noted that education is key - "Unfortunately, we still see cases where people try to heat their home by using a gas stove, which is never safe."

He added a word of caution about the use of space heaters, another potential source of CO.

"There should be a clearance of at least three feet in circumference," he said. "And they should always be checked to make sure they’re in proper working condition."

SYMPTOMS OF CO POISONING

The State of New Jersey Department of Health (nj.gov/health) lists the following symptoms of CO exposure: headache, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and confusion. High levels of exposure can result in loss of consciousness and even death.

Medical experts warn that anyone who has been exposed to carbon monoxide in an enclosed area should go out into the fresh air immediately and seek medical attention.